Dharmaja Uthappa, President of the District Level Guarantee Committee, instructed officials to ensure that all five guarantee schemes of the State Government reach every eligible beneficiary. He was speaking after presiding over the District Level Five Guarantee Implementation Committee meeting held at the Madikeri Zilla Panchayat office. He said the guarantee schemes have provided great economic and social strength to the people and stressed that officials must extend full cooperation in delivering these benefits.
Uthappa noted that there have been continuous complaints about Annabhagya rice being sold in the black market. Raids have been conducted in various parts of the district, and rice has been seized. In some cases, the beneficiaries themselves were found selling the rice. He said instructions have been given to the heads of the concerned departments to take strict action in this regard.
Committee member Shashidhar said that Depot Managers or ATS officers should be deputed to taluk-level Guarantee Implementation Committee meetings to discuss the Shakti Yojana. Instead, TCs are being sent, who have no information about the scheme. He said such lapses should not recur in the future.
The President also directed the heads of five departments to attend the district-level meetings without fail and asked the Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer to issue strict instructions. On the occasion, ZP CEO Anand Prakash Meena stated that the heads of five departments had already been informed of the meetings. He added that any officers absent without prior permission would be issued notices seeking an explanation.
Committee member Kantharaju said there are frequent complaints about beneficiaries selling Annabhagya rice and urged the Food and Civil Supplies Department to take strict measures. Uthappa instructed food inspectors in every taluk to take preventive measures during rice distribution and ensure the rice does not reach the black market. The committee also congratulated Kushalnagar Circle Inspector Swathi for taking swift action against black marketers.
Committee member Johnson said that Taluk Presidents of the Guarantee Implementation Committee are not being invited properly to taluk-level programs, citing the Pennampete area as an example. The President intervened and assured corrective action.
Committee member Shashidhar pointed out that the number of students registered under the Yuvanidhi scheme in the district is very low. He urged the District Employment Exchange officials to make greater efforts.
In response, Manjunath, an officer of the District Employment Exchange Department, said a special campaign has been launched with banners installed in every degree college in the district. He assured that more effective publicity will be undertaken in the coming days.
Committee member Mandrira Mohan Das suggested that students from Kodagu who have completed their degrees in other districts should also be informed and made aware of the scheme so that they too benefit.
Vice Presidents Shari Girish, K.C. Bhimaiah, Nasir, and Pankaj, along with members S.K. Sundara, K.M. Bashir, Mustafa, P.L. Suresh, Dhanya Ravindra, K.G. Peter, Kantaraju, Kalimada Prashant, and officials from various departments were present.
